When a friend of ours, who is a bartender, heard that we were going to be in Lima, Peru, he immediately told us that we absolutely had to try a Pisco Sour while we were there. We had never heard of Pisco or a Pisco Sour, but we agreed that we would give it a try. We weren’t disappointed. Pisco is an alcohol that is distilled from grapes and is essentially a brandy. Although we’ve had whiskey sours before, a Pisco Sour is similar in that it utilizes simple syrup and lime juice, but it doesn’t taste at all like a whiskey sour. It basically tastes like a frothy lemonade, but don’t let its sweet taste fool you, it is a strong drink. Just because Pisco is distilled from grapes, it isn’t wine, it is forty percent alcohol, or eighty proof.
One of the reasons that it is so light and airy is that an egg white is added and then it is shaken vigorously. Some places use a blender, but the better Pisco Sours are made using a hand-shaker. The dash of bitters at the end adds to the taste and the presentation. We tried Pisco Sours while in both Lima, Cochabamba, and La Paz with varied results. Ultimately the best Pisco Sour that we had was the first one we tried in Lima. We bought a bottle of Pisco on our way home at the duty-free store in Lima and will be trying our own hands at making Pisco Sours here in the very near future. If you ever get the chance to try them, you definitely should, they are delicious.
Nice one! Although I don’t know if it is correct to say “south american coctail”
We know for sure that it is made in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, and it is our understanding that it is also made in other South American countries. It was, however, invented in Lima in 1920. 🙂
You must also try the Cuy, traditional meal of Peru.
Okay, we’ll definitely give that a try! 🙂
Look it up first it’s not for everyone:)
I first had this great cocktail in 2011 in Chile but also several times in Peru. I will always remember the Peruvians and Chileans in heated discussion and adamant over who invented this drink!
As if they need another reason to argue with each other 😉
Ha, ha so very true! 😉
Looks delicious!
We’re normally wine drinkers, but this is definitely a wonderful drink 🙂
I love wine!
I love pisco sours! Although I had my first (and best) in Peru, our dear friends in Chile insist their pisco is best!